SIGNIFICANCE OF DIVERSITY IN ECOSYSTEMS / STABILITY OF ECOSYSTEMS
Ecosystem diversity refers to the differences and variety of life forms within any given ecosystem. This can mean (1) genetic diversity within a given species, (2) the richness of species within communities, (3) the richness of communities on landscape.
Benefits of Diversity in Ecosystems
1. Resistance to disasters / catastrophes - Biodiversity boosts economic efficiency and productivity. When there is a mono-culture (lack of biodiversity) disasters that would normally leave populations with a few surviving organisms can completely destroy a species due to lack of diversifying traits. Diversity in traits can also control the spread of disease, as pathogens will need to adapt in order to infect different species.
2. Support - Different species interact and support each other in different ways. Whether its a predator-prey relationship or mutual, species rely on each other to survive. The more bio-diverse an ecosystem is, the more support a given species has in its environment.
AP Images
ex. The Caiman crococilus (Spectacle Caiman) is a crocodile that lives in the Central and South America rain forest. Its diet primarily consists of small animals such as fish and frogs. If fish and frogs were to go extinct in this particular rain forest the crocodile would inadvertently have a disadvantage. However, it can also consume other species such as mice and birds, thus capable of surviving.
WWF
counter ex. The Ursus Maritimus (Polar Bear) is the largest land carnivore and resides in the Arctic. There it chiefly eats different types of seal and fish. Since few species live in the arctic, polar bears do not have much else to resort to for food if seals go down in population. This is partially the reason why polar bears are currently endangered. The arctic ecosystem does not have nearly the amount of biodiversity as a rain forest, and thus is very unstable.
House of Cards Analogy
A house of cards can be made into an analogy when talking about the stability of different species in the same ecosystem. The house of cards represents the specific ecosystem, while each card is an individual species in the ecosystem. Each species supports the other species around it. The more species present, the more stable the overall ecosystem is. However, if there is a lack of species in the environment, it becomes unsteady and many species are in danger of becoming extinct. As each species falls to extinction, the remaining species will become less and less successful whether or not they are directly related. If the situation gets bad enough, the whole tower crumbles which is referred to as mass extinction.
SIGNIFICANCE OF DIVERSITY IN ECOSYSTEMS / STABILITY OF ECOSYSTEMS
Ecosystem diversity refers to the differences and variety of life forms within any given ecosystem. This can mean (1) genetic diversity within a given species, (2) the richness of species within communities, (3) the richness of communities on landscape.
Benefits of Diversity in Ecosystems
1. Resistance to disasters / catastrophes - Biodiversity boosts economic efficiency and productivity. When there is a mono-culture (lack of biodiversity) disasters that would normally leave populations with a few surviving organisms can completely destroy a species due to lack of diversifying traits. Diversity in traits can also control the spread of disease, as pathogens will need to adapt in order to infect different species.
2. Support - Different species interact and support each other in different ways. Whether its a predator-prey relationship or mutual, species rely on each other to survive. The more bio-diverse an ecosystem is, the more support a given species has in its environment.
counter ex. The Ursus Maritimus (Polar Bear) is the largest land carnivore and resides in the Arctic. There it chiefly eats different types of seal and fish. Since few species live in the arctic, polar bears do not have much else to resort to for food if seals go down in population. This is partially the reason why polar bears are currently endangered. The arctic ecosystem does not have nearly the amount of biodiversity as a rain forest, and thus is very unstable.
House of Cards Analogy
A house of cards can be made into an analogy when talking about the stability of different species in the same ecosystem. The house of cards represents the specific ecosystem, while each card is an individual species in the ecosystem. Each species supports the other species around it. The more species present, the more stable the overall ecosystem is. However, if there is a lack of species in the environment, it becomes unsteady and many species are in danger of becoming extinct. As each species falls to extinction, the remaining species will become less and less successful whether or not they are directly related. If the situation gets bad enough, the whole tower crumbles which is referred to as mass extinction.
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